GLENDALE, Ariz. – The last thing Dodgers manager Joe Torre said to catcher Russell Martin on the way out the door last fall was the same thing he probably said to all of his players.

But in Martin’s case, the words “keep in touch” were meant a little more literally.

At Torre’s request, the two had lengthy telephone conversations every couple of weeks this winter, with the primary objective to address concerns Torre had about Martin’s general comportment during what Martin felt was a lackluster season last year, despite being named to his second consecutive National League All-Star team.

“He seems really upbeat now,” Torre said Saturday, just before the Dodgers’ pitchers and catchers held their first workout at the team’s new spring-training complex. “(Last year), I didn’t see the Russell everybody else saw the two previous years. But now, he sounds like the guy everybody told me he was.

“Last year, he was fighting it all year. He wasn’t a problem in any way, but you could see how frustrated he was getting.”

The dropoff in Martin’s numbers from 2007 wasn’t exactly a freefall. His on-base percentage actually increased from .374 to .385 because he drew more walks, but his batting average, doubles, home runs and RBI totals all were somewhat reduced. Perhaps more alarmingly, his percentage of throwing out would-be basestealers fell from 30 percent in 2007 to 19.5 percent in 2008, and there were whispers inside the organization that his game-calling skills suffered because he was so focused on improving his hitting.

Hence, the conversations with Torre.

“I don’t know if (the talks) got into anything really specific,” Martin said. “I think it was just time for me to do my part as far as all the responsibilities with being a catcher. One part of that is learning as much as I can. (Torre) has so much knowledge and so much experience, and it was kind of ridiculous for me not to pick his brain.”

Torre, who is entering his second season with the Dodgers and with Martin, seemed to concede that Martin’s overall game needed improvement.

“I think it’s just consistency,” Torre said. “To me, what makes a catcher feel good is winning a game even if he doesn’t get a hit. It’s about having a good result, and he knows that. He is a very proud individual. He doesn’t shy away from any responsibility. But he was very frustrated by (last season).”

Martin seemed noticeably more relaxed before, during and after the workout. When reporters asked him at one point what caused some slight discomfort he is feeling in his left foot – he underwent an MRI on Friday that came back negative – Martin joked that he might have hurt himself in the bedroom.

“Kama Sutra Position 68,” he said.

In fact, the injury is believed to have resulted from nothing more than an awkward step Martin took while walking. He will refrain from running until the pain subsides completely, but no one in the organization, including Martin, believes the situation is cause for concern.

Added versatility: Dodgers outfielder Delwyn Young donned catcher’s gear during the workout, something he figures to do often this spring.

Young is out of minor-league options and thus is guaranteed a roster spot as a backup outfielder if he isn’t traded, but he is hoping to develop enough skills behind the plate to possibly be designated as the Dodgers’ emergency third catcher.

He isn’t there yet, though.

“I would say I need some more work,” Young said. “I started working on it last year. I went to the (bull)pen during games so I could warm somebody up before I had to (pinch-hit or enter the game defensively). I usually would stay down there for about half the game.

“It’s too early to tell how it’s going to work out, but I did enough last year to know it’s hard work.”

Pitcher hurt: Pitching prospect Travis Schlichting got the first-injury-of-the-spring award. He is shut down for now after hurting his back last week while throwing off a mound near his home in Round Rock, Texas.

Schlichting, who was added to the 40-man roster this winter, reportedly wrenched his back when he slipped in some soft dirt on the front of the mound.